2 Samuel 9, 16:1-4, 19:24-30.
WE have in the Second Book of Samuel, chapters 9, a lovely picture of grace. God is graciously pleased to present again and again in the Old Testament delightful stories which picture very vividly New Testament truths.
This is one of them. Verse 1 finds David seated upon the throne which God had established for him at Jerusalem. In the love of his heart, and with longing desire for the blessing and happiness of others, he looks around to see if he could bestow a favor upon one of the descendants of the fallen house of Saul, the first king of Israel. Saul in his lifetime had been a jealous and bitter enemy of David, and was continually plotting to take away his life. Now David is on the throne. He, instead of seeking to destroy the descendants of Saul, longs that they should be in the enjoyment of his favor.
He puts the question, “Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul?” The question is soon answered. A man, Ziba by name, was called into the presence of the king, and could readily inform him that there was a descendant of Saul, where he lived, and what was his name. Ziba was a hypocrite, as his after-history shows. His name implies “a plant” or “a statue.” A statue may faithfully represent a person, but there is no life there; and a plant may have beautiful green leaves, and perfect-looking flowers, but may be only the work of man, never created by God―no life there, “Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not, planted, shall be rooted up” (Matt. 15:13).
David questions Ziba, “Is there not yet any of the house of Saul that I may show the kindness of God unto him.” Connected with the first verse, we get David’s reason― “For Jonathan’s sake.” Jonathan had been David’s friend they had intensely loved each other; and now David is, in the place of power, he longs to show not human kindness, but the “kindness of God.” Jonathan’s name implies, “Whom Jehovah gave.” How like God God seated in heaven says, Is there yet any of the fallen house of Adam unto whom I can show kindness for My dear Son’s sake? God has given Jesus, His blessed, His well-beloved Son, and His dear Son has so fully glorified Him that it is His great delight to bless a poor needy sinner.
Three things are said of Mephibosheth―who he was, what he was, and where he was 1. Who was he? Saul’s grandson: Saul, a type of man, according to the flesh, head and shoulders above every one else. Man’s choice. One who had been placed in a position of testing, and had thoroughly broken down, and had played into the hand of the enemy. From this man Mephibosheth-had descended, and he naturally carried in his heart wrong thoughts of David, and believed that David was his enemy rather than his friend. 2. What was he? Lame on both of his feet. Dropped by his nurse when five years old, he was lamed for life. An apt picture of you, my friend. Tried and tested by the five commands Godward, or five commands manward, you have been proved utterly incompetent, from want of power or ability to answer God’s righteous demands, and you have failed in your duty, Godward or man ward and proved to be “without strength.” 3. Where was he? In the house of Machin (sold) in Lodebar (place of no pasture). What a picture of thy sinner!
An enemy of God, ungodly, without strength, in his sins, and away from God, such are you, my friend, if you are unsaved. Like the young man in Luke 15 living in the far-off country, trying to make yourself happy at a distance from God, and seeking to satisfy the craving of your heart with husks in the place where there is no real pasture and no lasting satisfaction. Now, mark the action of David—he sends, he fetches. How like God! He sends from His loving heart, His blessed, His well-beloved Son, down into this world of wretchedness and misery, in order that He might seek the lost and the perishing sinner, and bring that poor, helpless sinner into His presence, that He might bless him for all eternity. What love, ‘what grace! God delivered His Son up to, death, and that the death of the cross, so that He might be able to save sinners from their sins and eternal judgment, and fit them for His blessed presence on high. His arm has wrought and brought salvation. He is “mighty to save” and “strong to deliver,” and He can save you.
Mark the effect 1 The moment Mephibosheth is brought into the presence of King David, see the, attitude― “He fell on his face.” Contrition is felt. He realizes what he is and there is nothing that produces repentance like grace and love—
“Truly blessed is the station
Low below the Lord to lie.”
He realizes in whose presence he is, and it produces uprightness of heart. He takes his true place, and puts David in his. So with the sinner, when the grace of, God reaches the heart, there is immediate moral adjustment―the sinner takes his place in the dust, and gives God His place.
David calls him by name. How personal. There is in the case of the sinner striking personality. God knows you, sees you, and takes account of your actions; knows your long catalog of sins, your sins of omission, and sins of commission. Everything is naked and open unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. Have you answered to your name, like Jacob of old? When God called him by name, he answered to it. What is the meaning of Jacob? Cheat, supplanter.
Mephibosheth answers to his name— “Behold thy servant.” The grace of David had broken him down, and he was prep red to take a servant’s place; but if David blesses, he must do it not according to Mephibosheth’s desires, but according to his own thoughts. In the parallel scripture, Luke 15, the young man say, “I will arise and go to my Father, and will say unto him, Fathers I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am not worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.” It takes a long time to comprehend and enjoy grace. It is so foreign to the human heart. Man cannot conceive God blessing him apart from any deserving merit on his side, and he concludes that he can or must do something to deserve it.
David seeks to allay his troubled heart with the lovely gospel message, “Fear not.” David desires to let the sunshine in to disperse every cloud of darkness that might becloud his soul― “For I will surely show thee kindness”―what assurance does the king’s word give, and surely not a shadow of doubt― “for Jonathan’s sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father.” Man has lost this world by the fall―death is upon him―he has forfeited everything; and although he may use all his energy to gain the world at the risk of losing his soul, yet his pursuit is in vain―he has notice to quit this world. Thank God, His Christ is going to have this world very shortly―it is His by purchase; and when He has His rights, His own will share it with Him, and far and beyond that, for a believer is joint-heir with Christ in all that He comes into possession of. “And thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.” Cared for, for the whole of his history, he is fed with daily, grace, made partaker of David’s bounty, ‘and treated as one of the king’s sons.
What a contrast between the far country (Lodebar), and seated at the king’s table! Well might he humble himself, and take a lower place. What is a “dead dog” worth?
Not only does David in his grace elevate him, and seat him at his table, but he provides that Mephibosheth should have every care, every attention, and ample provision. How like God! He takes up the sinner, forgives him, justifies him, blesses him for all eternity, and provides for every step of the journey heavenward.
Mephibosheth in himself was weak as before; his lameness had not left him, but instead of being occupied with his lameness or leanness, he is occupied with the person of David, partaking of his bounty, happy in his presence, and his heart going out to him, and his poor, weary, lame feet are out of sight.
In 2 Samuel 16:1-4, the scene changes. A usurper is on the throne. David is rejected for the moment, and leaves the country, and Mephibosheth has to learn what Jerusalem is without the presence of David. So with the Christian, his Lord and Saviour has been rejected by the world, cast out, spurned, and crucified. He is no longer here. This world is the scene of His sorrows and death; and the question is whether the Christian is prepared to take sides with a rejected Christ, Christendom professes to acknowledges His claims to own His authority and honor His name. But preach Christ in the concert room, the theater, the circus, the drawing-room, the shop, the counting house, or the railway carriage, and it will readily be seen that He is no more wanted now than He was eighteen hundred years ago. The religious world, has no heart for Christ. Religion―plenty of it― but not Christ. Bring Him in, and it spoils everything. To the believer He is everything; He is the chiefest amongst ten thousand―altogether lovely ti and he is prepared to take sides with Him, and to separate from everything that savors not of Christ. Mephibosheth is belied by the arrant hypocrite Ziba. Mephibosheth had saddled his ass to accompany the king, but Ziba, with a professed show of devotedness, had followed David with the ass, with provisions, fruits, and wine, and sought to be credited, and poor Mephibosheth discredited. He professes to speak for Mephibosheth, that he was taking advantage of David’s departure to reign in his stead.
When David returns in chapter 19:24-30, the real fact is brought to light. Mephibosheth is seen as he really was. He had mourned David’s absence. His manner of life, his dress, his behavior all told of the deep sorrow of his heart.
Now David has returned, he has got everything. It was not David’s gifts he wanted. It was just himself, nothing less surely. David filled the gaze of his vision—David was his all in all. So, with the believer, he mourns the absence of Christ, longs to see Him, whom not having seen, he loves longs to be with Him; and as he looks on to that bright and blessed moment when he knows that he will see Him face to face, he can turn his back upon this worthless world, with all its pleasures, amusements, and vanities, knowing that there is a grand moment coming when he will be taken out of it to be forever with the Lord.
E. G.